The Octave of Christmas is one of my favorite time of the year. It is the first eight days of the 12 days of Christmas with the final day of the Octave occurring on the first day of the New Year the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God. Most of my life as a Catholic I had know idea there were the Holy Days that followed Christmas Day (there is also an Octave after Easter) and why these days pointed our Catholic Church to the Paschal Mystery of the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is the reminder of how we are called to continue to celebrate for while from the outside the world moves forward to the calendar New Year and perhaps the Church may look quiet there is much going on because of the journey forward. I would like us to consider several spiritual fruits during these days.
Proclamation: “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” (Jn 1:14) Sharing the Good News is the greatest gift we can give to family, friends and the world. The witness to our faith is done is joy with our eyes focused on our Lord in the manger. It is a chance to grow in our faith as we learn why we celebrate. One of the easiest ways is to simply greet people with a “Merry Christmas.”
Life: Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.” (Mt 2:17-18) One of the most tragic and savage passages in the Gospels is the slaughter of the Holy Innocents. A moment were greed, fear and hatred come to destroy the precious and innocent life of the children of Bethlehem. We can share the Gospel of life, the blessing of life from the moment of conception to natural death where as a Church we focus on encouraging life in abundance. Christmastime is the blessing new life and we proclaim life through prayer and actions asking for the protection of the most vulnerable in our society and an end to the destructive acts against life, abortion, euthanasia, war, the death penalty, protection of refugees that surround us in our world. Witnessing to life is witnessing to God’s love.
Family: “God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.” (Sir 3:2) The Feast of the Holy Family shows the other side of life, where joined together the transmission of grace through life is found always in the joy of the Gospel. Taking time to pass on the traditions of faith and family support the greater good of each child and of society at large.
Of course, these are actions of love we should celebrate throughout the year, but the Octave of Christmas gives us this opportunity to take time and intentionally focus on the blessings given and shared in the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas,
Fr. Mark